I'm not much of a prank type guy so today really doesn't mean much to me. And it just so happens that I had a corporate visitor in town this week so it's been a little hectic without worrying about who to pull a fast one on today. Anyways, today the joke was it was the first decent weather day in a little while around here. We have been having some terrible weather of late. Sideways rain, cold temps, etc. I was able to run tonight for the first time in a few days without getting soaked which was awesome! I'm really looking forward to some warmer weather however. Rain and cold weather makes for a less motivated Trevor.
Tonight's run was good though. I got to listen to a recent Dave Scott interview. I'm a huge Dave fan, so being able to listen to an interview with him while working out was great fun. More importantly, my base is coming along real nice and I felt like I had a great rhythm and stride going out there despite limiting my heart rate and effort. I only have a few more weeks of base stuff...thank god! Not that the volume will change much, just a change in intensity is nice. It's tough to put in 30+ miles a week running for example and have basically zero intensity involved. The whole point of course is when you start to include that intensity, the engine is so well built with all that base work that it absorbs the efforts well.
So I'm usually very good about sticking with my training plan. For instance, since I'm doing mostly lower heart rate work right now, I don't allow myself to push pace on the bike or run. Swimming sure, but not the other two. So I'm out with a buddy the other day for a 4.5 hour ride. It was a ride I've done a few times, mostly by myself. Tons of hills. Almost 6k of climbing in 70 miles or so. I'm feeling so good on the bike lately that I'm able to do most of the big climbs, and all the longer ones, in my 53. This way I concentrate on a lower cadence and build my power. So we are getting near the end of the ride and finishing the last of our roller hills and 3 dudes go flying past us. The one leading was on a TT and flying, and two dudes on his wheel with matching kits. I looked back at my buddy who was in no position to chase and thought oh well, I'm not supposed to push anyways. I watched them continue to put distance between us until they were about 400 to 500 yards up the road. That's when I said fuck it.
I never deviate from my plan, but I'd been such a good boy this winter and so wanted to tear some guys legs apart. I was in my 53 still so I just shifted quickly to a bigger gear (15 I think?) and hammered after the pack. I don't know how long it took me to catch them. 1/4 mile? Maybe a little longer. They clearly didn't think there was any chance of anyone catching them as they were rolling along nicely on the slight uphill (19+mph) because I pulled up right next to the two guys in the matching kits and said, "Hey boys, those are some great looking kits" and the guy closest to me almost fell flat off his bike he was so surprised to see me! I asked them where they had been riding today and then they asked me. "Oh, we went out to that climb as well and then went another 15 miles or so past before turning around." We chit chatted for another few minutes before I commented again on their cool looking jerseys before peeling back to check on my friend. I could hear them talking and laughing as I turned around about how I had reeled them back in despite doing twice the ride they had done that day. It was great! So long story short, I did deviate from my plan this past weekend. But it was so worth it!! Thanks for reading,
-T
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